STERLING -- The Logan County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a resolution establishing overweight and oversized vehicle fees and regulations for travel on county roads.

There were no comments during a public hearing concerning the resolution.

Commissioner Dave Donaldson explained that per the Colorado Revised Statutes, the commissioners have the authority to establish fees and regulations for county roads.

According to the resolution the administrative support manager of Logan County, Jennifer Crow, and the Road and Bridge department are responsible for the issuance of permits and collection of permit fees.

"We have increased our permits for overweight and oversized vehicles," Donaldson said. "People can either get an annual permit or a single trip permit."

The resolution states that an annual permit is $250 per vehicle and a single trip permit is $15 per vehicle, for over-length, over-width and over-height permits on loads or vehicles that don't exceed legal weight limits.

Overweight permits for vehicles or loads exceeding legal weight limits, up to 200,000 pounds, cost $400 per vehicle for an annual permit or $15 plus $5 per axle, per vehicle, for a single trip permit.

Special permits for structural, oversize or overweight moves requiring extraordinary action or moves involving weight in excess of 200,000 pounds are $125 per vehicle, plus any cost for moves requiring extraordinary action(s).

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"The reason for increased fees is because of the damage that these vehicles can do on our county roads," Commissioner Debbie Zwirn said.

"We're getting quite a few overweight vehicles in the county and so it's our obligation to ensure they take a route that does not cross a bridge that has a restricted weight," Donaldson added.

According to the resolution, permit recipients are responsible for the safe movement of all oversized or overweight vehicles and assume all liability for damage or injury to the county roads or right of ways or any persons using the roads and right of ways.

By statute the commissioners were obligated to send the resolution to the Colorado Department of Transportation for their review and comment, which they did.

"He's very proud of your history. You have a beautiful county seat here, with lots of history," she told the commissioners. "You have so many things to be proud of."

The commissioners also opened proposals for lawn mowing and maintenance on various county properties, including Logan County Courthouse Square, Justice Center, Central Services Building and the Heritage Center.

There were three proposals: from Total Lawn Care in Sterling; David Hutt, formerly known as Dave's Mowing and Maintenance, in Sterling; and Barre Ground in Peetz. Those proposals were sent to the building and grounds supervisor for review.

Under the consent agenda, the commissioners removed acknowledgement of the treasurer's report for October and tabled the item. The treasurer's report for September remained tabled as well.

During a work session following the business meeting Commissioner Jim Edwards gave an update on the Logan County Courthouse custom lighting project. He's working on getting the system programmed for Christmas; the new lighting should be ready to go on display on today.

There is still work to be done on the parking lot lights on the side, which won't be completed until later, and the shields aren't up.

Edwards described the new system as "primitive," saying it's more complicated to run.

In the afternoon, the commissioners met with Logan County Coroner Dave Tennant and later Logan County Sheriff Brett Powell and Randy Pfeifer, with the Sheriff's Posse, to discuss budget requests.

Tennant talked about the struggle to hire a third deputy and needing a more lucrative package to offer a potential employee.

Powell and Pfeifer discussed the relationship between the Sheriff's Office and the Sheriff's Posse, which is a 501(c)3 organization.

The commissioners also reviewed an ambulance service contract the county received from the city of Sterling. Some minor revisions were discussed. The contract, with the revisions, must be returned to the city by Tuesday, Nov. 27, so the city can take action on it before the county does.

The commissioners will not have a work session or business meeting the week of Nov. 26, due to Donaldson and Zwirn attending the Colorado Counties, Inc. Winter Conference, Nov. 26-28, in Colorado Springs. Their next regular business meeting will be 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4, at the Logan County Courthouse.

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